“What a journey!”

Warehouse Team manager

I joined brakes back in 2013 at a new depot that promised so many opportunities. I had previously been a chef for 13 years so I had a strong background in food, but I needed a new challenge - this new adventure was too great an opportunity to miss!  It was strange at first as I’d never worked in a warehouse, but I picked it up quickly from the training I received and the support from my line managers and colleagues.  As my journey through Brakes progressed I focussed on getting my head down and working hard as I knew that Brakes encouraged internal promotion.  I gave myself 3 years to work towards the next step in becoming a Team Manager, knowing that if I applied myself correctly that Brakes would give me the opportunity to achieve this personal goal.  With hard work, determination and support from my line managers, I achieved this and have now been a Team Manger for 2 years.  I really enjoy my job – I love working with my team and getting to know them, engaging and building a great working atmosphere.  It really gives me great job satisfaction to see the results me and my team produce. Working and being a manager for the biggest food group in the country has its challenges, but we have such a hardworking supportive network to help us through tough times, and we all share the same goal, to give the customer the best experience we possibly can -that's what me and my team find most rewarding.

“Joining Brakes was the best decision I ever made”

Regional Sales Manager

I first joined Brakes in July 2014, when the business was going through a consolidation project, combining the contact centres in Scotland and moving the central depots all into Newhouse.  My role was to manage the contact centres in Scotland and create a platform for the future.  We achieved great success in Dalziel House and this was recognised with the highest ever recorded engagement scores for a Brakes site, and a leadership award from the CEO for "inspiring people".   I left the contact centre arena in July 2016 following a successful 2 years and the next challenge was to take a Field Sales Region and improve performance as a Regional Sales Manager.  Over the past 2 years I have worked with the best people ever and I have a great performing region.  My career at Brakes has been a brilliant rollercoaster - from the first day until today I have worked with the finest people thus far in my career and I have been invested in personally through ongoing development and support.  I am challenged every day and always seem to be learning more and more as I go.

There can be so many reasons to join a new business, it’s a really important decision.  Joining Brakes was the best decision I have ever made.

“We are a family and are treated as individuals, not just a number”

HGV 2 multi drop driver

My brakes journey started in March 2015, as a Class 2 HGV multi drop driver.  Multi drop is hard work but very rewarding, the feeling of achievement when all deliveries are complete and customers are happy is brilliant! Being out on the road, you have a sense of freedom.  Some people think it is lonely working on your own all day but I get to talk to my lovely customers at every drop, and it has been known for me to talk to myself - we never fall out!!  Brakes gives everyone a chance to grow. You would think that being a woman in a very male world, it would be impossible to progress, but if you have the ambition and the talent Brakes will help you all the way to achieve your potential.  The support that Brakes offer is second to none, since I started with them 4 years ago there's always been someone to talk to - about anything.  Whilst I was undergoing cancer treatment and off work, I had tremendous support and we even raised over £7000 for breast cancer care which the whole of Brakes nationwide took part in, at the drop of a hat.

I can genuinely say Brakes is the best company I have worked for, we are a family and are treated as individuals, not just a number.

“I wouldn’t want to do what I do anywhere else!”

General Manager

Where do I start - what a journey!!  I joined Brakes in 1999 and started my career as a Class 2 HGV Driver.  Every day was different and I loved the customer interaction.  I had big ambitions and all through my career Brakes has fully supported me to achieve them.  In 2007 I was promoted to Distribution Shift Manager, I then worked my way up through the ranks and have held various positions including; Warehouse Manager, Distribution Manager, Operations manager and Distribution Centre Manager.  I'm now a General Manager at Brakes looking after one of the larger depots that delivers 500,000 units a week to over 8000 destinations and has 180 warehouse colleagues, 150 drivers and 50 support staff – it’s no mean feat to ensure it all runs smoothly! I also work really closely with our local sales teams to ensure that we are always putting our customer first and providing them with the best experience.  I love the challenge and the best part of my job is supporting and developing my teams – the people we have at Brakes really are brilliant and I wouldn’t want to do what I do anywhere else!

“I love the supportive atmosphere and positivity!”

Operations Manager. Customer Care

In 2004, I joined Brakes as a Telesales Advisor. I had finished University and thought Brakes would be a stop gap whilst I figured out how I was going to follow my chosen career path within the TV and film industry (how wrong I was!)  I remember the supportive atmosphere and positive relationships that I made, even in my very first days, and this made me want to stay.  I was promoted to a Senior Advisor after my first year and I enjoyed coaching and supporting my peers with challenging queries and sharing ideas on achieving targets.  In 2006 I went through a rigorous interview process and became a manager within the telesales department.  I was responsible for driving a team to achieve quality and sales targets. For the next 10 years I was able to help build the business and support my team’s development - both within the call centre and to other areas of the business. At Brakes, I have benefited from a host of opportunities and investment in my coaching skills, and I grew to become a strong manager and a key member of the local leadership team.  In 2017 I was on maternity leave and decided that I wanted to take the next steps within my career path upon my return to work.  I applied for the role of Operation Manager, Customer Care and was successful. I have been enjoying the fast pace of the contact centres ever since.   This may not be the career path I had studied for, but the opportunities, support and commitment has allowed me to flourish and build a great career at Brakes.

“I have never felt more accepted and freer to be myself!”

Social Channels Manager

I joined Brakes in 2017 and being a person of colour and gay, I was initially nervous of joining a business with a huge supply chain and operations side, based on my limited knowledge and assumptions of that world. But I quickly realised how accepting and open minded everyone at Brakes is, and I can honestly say I have never worked somewhere where I've felt more accepted and freer to be myself. Before Brakes I used to move company every 6 months but 2 years on, I’m still really happy here!  On top of the flexibility I am offered in my role, the main reason for staying is the people - Brakes Colleagues are truly one of a kind. Everyone is so different, welcoming, nice, kind, generous, inclusive and so much fun! I don’t know whether it's the way we recruit or that we just manage to attract a certain type of person but the true power of Brakes is its people. You'll meet huge numbers of colleagues who have many years of service, and I've always thought that I could never put that many years into one company, but I'm starting to believe that I could easily be here for the next 5 years or more.